by Bette Ford
“You mean Leah leaving with the Dunn brothers?”
“Yeah!”
“Believe it,” Scott chuckled, moving his thumb over the back of her balled-up hands.
“It’s not funny.”
“Babe, it’s not the end of the world. Leah’s a big girl. And she chose to spend what was left of the night with Neal Dunn.”
“It’s just that . . .” Jenna paused. “I don’t know why I’m so surprised.”
“Leah may be your twin, but she’s not you,” he said in an attempt to soothe her.
“You’re right. She did something I’d never even consider.” Then she looked pointedly at him. “What do you know about this Neal Dunn?”
“Enough. As I told you, I played ball with their older brother, Matt. The two of us were teammates with the Charlotte Hornets until he was traded.”
“That’s it?”
“Jenna, Leah’s only going out with him, not going down the aisle with the man.”
“She’s sleeping with him. And she doesn’t really know him. He could be a serial killer for all we know.”
“Not likely. Besides, we really don’t know what they’re doing. They may stay up all night talking.”
She poked him in the middle with her elbow. “Even I’m not that naïve. I might not have known my sister long, but I don’t think she is sporting a halo.”
He placed a tender kiss on her lips, savoring their softness. Not liking the worry he saw in her pretty hazel eyes, he decided a change of topic was in order. “What did you think of Bradley’s?”
“Very nice, elegant. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. It was good to see Taylor and Donald. Your mom doing the babysitting honors?”
“Yeah. She’s crazy about her grandbabies.” He laughed. “This will be your first visit to my house. I’m in Bloomfield Hills.”
“Yes, I’ve wondered why you haven’t invited me before.” She gazed pointedly at him.
Scott laughed, confessing, “My reason for not inviting you sooner had nothing to do with you. I’m embarrassed to say that until recently, the only person who came by was my sister. And she only stopped by to yell at me. The place was a mess. And so was I.”
“What do you mean?” She slipped her hand into his.
“When I moved back to the area I only brought my clothes, kitchen basics, and mementos. As for furniture, I had my bedroom set, leather sofa and recliner, a few lamps, not much. Throw in towels and sheets, and that was about it. The extent of my shopping for the new house was getting a television, DVD player, and my favorite sound system. In short, I used my bedroom, the kitchen, and den. The rest of the rooms remained empty.”
“But why?”
“When I sold the house in L.A., the buyer wanted everything.” He shrugged, taking a few moments before he reluctantly said, “I wanted to make a fresh start, only I fell into a slump. I did a lot of drinking and brooding, wondering if I’d made a big mistake in returning to Detroit. I was also missing you badly and not handling it well.”
“I had no idea.”
He said candidly, “It was a tough couple of weeks. I had poor Taylor worried. She gave me a jolt when she told me you were back. My getting back into college and the lab, and then seeing you, was the kick in the butt that I needed.” He grinned sheepishly. “When I saw your place, I decided to get it together. I hired a housekeeper and interior decorator. I finally felt as if I can invite you over.”
“Goodness. I assumed you were living in a showplace, something like Taylor and Donald’s.” Jenna took him by surprise when she asked, “What was your place like in Charlotte and L.A.?”
They’d made a point of not questioning each other about the lost years. It seemed easier not to delve too deeply into each other’s lives. He didn’t want to hear about the men she’d dated, especially not the ones who’d tried to get close to her. He especially hadn’t liked seeing her with Jackson Knight.
“I had a condo in Charlotte, and I bought a house in L.A. Both places were done by decorators.” He shrugged. “All I cared about was that I was comfortable.” For some reason his places had never felt like home, only a place to sleep and dump his stuff. As for the women in his life, he’d been careful not to let any one of them get too close.
Jenna laughed. “That tells me nothing about your personal sense of style.”
He chuckled. “I don’t believe I have one.”
Giggling, she said, “Everyone has a personal style. You look very good tonight,” she said, smoothing his dove-gray dress shirt and charcoal-gray silk tie, which he’d teamed with a beautifully tailored black suit.
Pleased, he said, “I’m only a few miles from Taylor and my mother.” The limousine turned onto a long, curved drive paved with cream-colored brick. It eased to a stop beneath the portico of an impressive house.
While Scott settled with the driver, Jenna studied the old-world charm of the Venetian-inspired home. Mounted sconces lit the cream stucco exterior and framed the arched double doors.
“It’s beautiful.” She smiled up at him as he put his key in the lock.
He grinned. “You may want to reserve judgment until you’ve seen the interior.” Pushing the door wide, he stepped back for her to proceed.
They stood in the wide marble foyer, furnished in a traditional fashion with a heavy oak chest flanked by two straight-back, wheat-colored padded chairs.
“This way.” With a hand at her spine, he urged her down the long hall and through the open doorway on the right. “This is the den, where I spend most of my time.”
Jenna took in the taupe walls and drapes, the deep-cushioned bronze leather sofa and armchair with matching ottoman, and the dark brown leather recliner that dominated the room. His laptop sat open on the mahogany desk with its comfortable, wheat-patterned chair. A huge flat-screen television was mounted above a console table that served as a bar. The rich teak hardwood floor was covered by a large bronze, taupe, caramel, and ivory patterned area rug.
“Well?” he prompted.
“It’s strong, masculine, and comfortable. I like it. Show me more.”
Relieved, Scott took her across the hall to the large dining room. “I can’t take credit for anything other than picking out the taupe for the walls and drapes.”
Jenna admired the rich, dark cherrywood traditional dining room set with high-back wheat-colored upholstered slipper chairs. “It’s lovely.”
Scott showed her the spacious living room done in shades of cream. Twin taupe suede armchairs were separated by a round end table, and two cream velvet sofas faced each other. They were positioned on either side of the impressive marble fireplace. The large, wingback chair, covered in a striped silk cream and taupe, faced the fireplace, its matching padded bench positioned in front of an oversized glass-topped coffee table.
He explained that the double French doors on each side of the fireplace opened onto the covered veranda that wrapped around the back of the house. “Beyond the garden is an outdoor pool and tennis court. I’ve hired a contractor to add on an indoor pool, gym, and basketball court.” Smiling, he took her hand. “Come on. I want to show you the kitchen and family room.”
The kitchen was beautiful and spacious, with stainless steel appliances, taupe and bronze granite countertops, and a huge center island. Before she could comment, he took her next door to the empty family media room. He even showed her the five empty guest bedrooms with connecting baths.
“Still impressed?” He waited for her response. He had no idea why her approval was so important to him. It just was.
Jenna laughed. “Well, there’s still a lot to do, but you’ve made remarkable progress. I can only imagine your sister’s and mother’s reactions.”
With an arm around her shoulders, he said, “They were pleased that I’d finally settled in.” He guided her pa
st the kitchen and living room to the east wing, where he paused in front of a set of double doors. “This is the master suite,” he said as he pushed opened the doors.
He watched her closely as she took in the oversized bed that had been custom made to accommodate his height. The taupe suede, padded headboard stretched to the ceiling, while two beautifully crafted, granite topped nightstands held a pair of bronze table lamps. The bed was covered with a plush, dark-brown velvet comforter and pristine white sheets. It was piled high with white pillows. A long, bronze padded bench was positioned at the foot of the bed. A large flat-screen television was mounted on the wall across from the bed, while bronze leather armchairs faced each other and shared a matching ottoman. The door on the left opened into an enormous walk-in closet, and the door on the right led to the luxurious spa-like bathroom, also done in shades of bronze.
“Well?”
She slid her arms beneath his jacket and wrapped them around his waist. “Your home is a showplace . . . exceptional.”
He frowned. “Does that mean it feels like a home?”
“Absolutely.”
He grinned, pleased with her response. “You are exhausted,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. “My invitation is still open. You are welcome to spend the night.”
Snuggling against him, she sighed softly, then said, “Yes, I’ll stay, but I doubt I’ll have the energy to do more than sleep. Is that okay?”
“As long as I get to hold you, you won’t hear any complaints out of me,” he confessed. He brushed her lips with his. “Need any help getting undressed?” he asked, confident that her being here with him tonight was enough as long as she continued to have room for him in her life.
He was a patient man. He could wait for her to realize she still had feelings for him . . . that their love was not a thing of the past.
“If that means I don’t have to move, I’m all for it,” she said wearily.
Ignoring his pulsating need, Scott undressed them both. They shared a soothing, hot shower. Jenna could hardly keep her eyes open by the time they cuddled in the center of his large, comfortable bed. After she kissed the place where his neck and shoulders joined, causing shivers to race over his heated skin, she mumbled goodnight, then drifted off into a deep, restorative sleep.
Although he was tired, sleep didn’t come. He rested on his back, with Jenna’s head tucked beneath his chin, while she slept on him. Her lush curves were covered by one of his old L. A. Lakers T-shirts. He gently smoothed a palm down her back. Her shapely long legs were tucked between his.
Savoring their closeness, his focus was entirely on her. Determined to enjoy every single moment they shared like this, he closed his eyes and gave his other senses free rein. He relished Jenna’s softness while he inhaled her unique womanly scent. He indulged his sense of taste by dropping his head to momentarily lave her neck . . . no more. She needed rest, and that was exactly what he’d give her. All the while he listened to her deep, slow breathing.
Scott refused to dwell on his earlier disappointment when Jenna had flatly refused to consider his invitation. She’d swept it aside, just as he’d ignored his body’s natural reaction to her sweet curves and closeness. As fatigue caught up with him, he acknowledged that he held his world in his arms.
Twenty
Jenna was sleeping so soundly that Scott didn’t have the heart to wake her. The urgency of his throbbing arousal forced him out of his comfortable bed and into a cold shower. He smiled despite his selfish need. Having her here was worth any amount of temporary discomfort.
He dressed in gray sweats, then went outside to begin his run. He smiled as he ran, leather gloves and a knit skull cap being his only concession to the bitterly cold morning. As his long, powerful legs ate the miles, he mulled over the chemical compounds and formulas he planned to work with in the lab the next day. Five miles later he was barely winded, his muscles loose. He took another shower, this one hot and soothing, then dressed in faded jeans and a black crew-neck, cashmere sweater.
He allowed himself only a few minutes to admire his lady snuggled against a pillow. Feet encased in athletic socks, he padded into the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. Pleased with his efforts, he carried the heavily laden tray down the hall. He was brought up short when he reentered the bedroom to find Jenna not in bed but nearly dressed.
She looked up, offering him a pretty smile as she eased her dress up over her luscious hips and plump breasts and onto her shoulders. She pushed back her thick, wavy hair.
“Good morning, I was coming to look for you.” Her hazel eyes twinkled. “You’ve been busy. It smells divine.”
Smiling, Scott placed the tray on the leather ottoman between the armchairs. “I’d planned to surprise you with breakfast in bed.” With a hand on a lean hip, he complained, “You’re dressed.”
“If I’d known, I would have stayed put.” She stretched up on tiptoe to place a kiss on his lips. “How’d you sleep?”
“Not as well as you did. You looked so pretty asleep in my bed. I didn’t have the heart to wake you so you could run with me.” He gave her a squeeze before he asked, “Hungry?”
“I could eat a small bite,” she hedged, then laughed at his frown. Rubbing her hands together she said, “What did you make? Cereal? Pop-Tarts?”
Chuckling, he said, “More like waffles with strawberries, turkey bacon, and coffee.” Discarding the dome, he held up a plate. “Did I mention the waffles were frozen, the bacon microwaved, but the coffee was freshly brewed.”
“It’s the thought that matters.” Collecting a plate and silverware wrapped in a napkin, she settled in an armchair. “Smells good.” She said grace before she dug in. “Mmm, delicious.”
He couldn’t stop grinning. “You must really be hungry.” He took the other chair, then passed her a glass of orange juice before he took his own plate. “I could have cracked a few eggs, but I didn’t want to chance messing that up.”
Smiling, Jenna didn’t stop eating. “Is it really ten? I didn’t realize it was so late. Leah’s probably at home wondering . . .”
“If Leah is back, she knows you’re with me.”
“You think I’m overreacting, don’t you?”
“I didn’t say that.” He tucked a wavy lock behind her ear before he went back to his own breakfast.
Jenna swallowed. “You didn’t answer my question.”
Scott didn’t respond immediately. Reluctantly, he admitted, “I think you should ease up a bit. Stop worrying about every little bump in the road. I’d like to see you relaxed so you can enjoy this time with your sister.”
There was an extended silence as he waited for her response.
Sighing, she said, “I just want things to go smoothly as we get to know each other again. What’s wrong with that?”
“There’s no such thing as perfection, not in this lifetime.”
“I don’t expect perfection,” she defended, sipping her coffee.
“You were shaken when your sister went with Neal Dunn.”
“I know. She surprised me, that’s all. No biggy.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely.” She flashed him a reassuring smile. Returning her nearly empty plate to the tray, she said, “I’ll help you clean up before I leave.”
“You don’t have to rush off. I’d like nothing better than to spend the day with you.” Finished with his plate, he came over to cradle her chin. “I haven’t seen much of you since your sister arrived.”
Jenna stared at him for a long moment. “I know, but we talked about this, remember?”
“Yeah, I know. I’m not complaining, just missing you.” He held her close. “It’s easier said than done,” he said with a shrug. When she reached for the tray, he said, “It’s heavy. I’ll get it.”
Once the kitchen was clean, she said, ”I sh
ould get back.”
He opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it. Then he nodded his agreement.
They both were quiet on the drive to her place. Even after he stopped the car, they looked thoughtfully at each other.
Jenna broke the silence when she said, “What are you going to do with the rest of your day?”
“I’ve got enough work to do on my project to keep me busy. I also promised to stop by and see my mom. Probably take her out to dinner. We haven’t done that in a while and she likes that kind of stuff.”
He smiled, determined to conceal his disappointment. He consoled himself with the thought that there would be time later for the two of them to be alone together. He would wait until Leah had settled in and Jenna had more time to devote to him.
This was a special time for her, and he wouldn’t burden her with a host of personal demands to cement their relationship. He prided himself on being a patient man. Besides, his lady was more than worth the inconvenience.
Introducing Leah to the Dunn brothers had turned out better than he’d hoped. He hadn’t expected her to take off with them, but unlike Jenna, he wasn’t surprised. Leah’s body language screamed that she was ripe for the taking. His single goal had been to keep Leah occupied with any man she’d wanted, just not him.
He didn’t appreciate the way Leah had clung to him last night. It had bordered on disrespect to him and Jenna. And he wasn’t about to let Jenna’s sister come between them. He’d really tried to withhold judgment for his lady’s sake. It hadn’t worked. Before they’d left Las Vegas, he’d found Leah to be extremely self-centered, but he’d wisely kept his opinion to himself. Jenna adored her sister and expected those close to her to do the same.
As Scott leaned down to briefly cover her mouth with his, he said, “I’ll call tonight.” Then he got out and opened her door. He held his hand out to her, but he didn’t trust himself to do more. He wanted her too badly.